Chapter 2

Harry stood in his doorway, dumbfounded. His uncle, possibly the most muggle person in all of Britain, had just let a witch into the house. He heard her clear her throat delicately and Uncle Vernon mumbled, "Up the stairs to the right."

"Thank you, sir," she said prettily.

Harry was still in shock as she rounded the corner and saw him. She smiled and her eyes twinkled mischievously. Harry noticed that they were just as green as his. As he looked at her, he gota subtle sense of light and goodness, warming a frozen part of his heart that had been untouchable since the death of Professor Dumbledore.

"Harry… your mouth is hanging open," she said teasingly.

He snapped it shut and invited her into his room, then closed the door.

"How… what…" he stammered, at a loss for words.

She laughed melodiously and said, "Well let's just say I have a way with people. You smile innocently enough and most people will just accept anything you say."

She put an innocent, air-headed expression on her face, then relaxed and laughed.

"I'm Tamara. I just moved in down the street and a friend told me that you live here. I thought I'd come and say hi."

He looked at Tamara curiously. "Who?" He was sure that only a handful of people knew his address.

"I believe you know George Weasley. He said he'd visited a few times and got that mischievous Fred and George look. I thought there was probably an amusingstory behind thatbut I didn't press it."

Harry smiled at the memory of the first time Fred and George visited Number Four, Privet Drive. He looked back at her. "So you just moved in, huh? From where?"

Tamara's smile faltered slightly before she answered. "America. I was living there with a different family but… there were some problems and I came here."

Harry wondered at the reaction but let it pass. "Wow… America, that's really cool."

They both shifted slightly as an awkward silence grew.

"So Harry," Tamara began, trying to break the silence. "Are you looking forward to going back to school?"

Harry frowned. "I'm not going back," he said curtly. "I have more important things I have to do."

Tamara sighed sadly. "So you are going after the Horcruxes then."

Once again Harry gaped at her. She seemed to know everything that he thoughtwas a closely guarded secret.

She gave him a small smile. "Oh yes, I know all about them. Or just as much as you do anyway. You weren't the only one Dumbledore discussed those types of things with."

"Why would he talk to you about them?" Harry asked bluntly.

She frowned. "Because I needed to know just as much as you did. You see, Harry, I'm a member of an underground organization bent on fighting Voldemort's every move."

He looked at her dubiously. "You're a member of the Order of the Phoenix?"

Tamara laughed and shook her head. "Oh no. You don't think that there is only one group fighting the Dark Lord do you? And this one is different from all the others." She smiled. "Very different."

Harry raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Different how?"

She shook her head again. "That's not important. I want you to know that we can help you find them, Harry. The Horcruxes. We have agents everywhere. You don't have to do this alone."

Harry was about to reply when suddenly a massive explosion erupted from the corner of the street. Harry heard Aunt Petunia scream. Tamara rushed to Harry's window and looked out. Harry quickly joined her. There was smoke billowing out of the corner house and dark figures were standing in front of it. Tamara put a hand to her mouth.

"Oh no," she said softly, but without fear.

"Are those Death Eaters?" Harry asked incredulously. He had never imagined that Death Eaters could ever show up on Privet Drive.

"The very same," Tamara said sadly. She shook her head and clenched her fists, getting a hardened, determined look on her face that Harry could not have imagined there.

"Harry, I need you to keep your aunt and uncle inside. They absolutely cannot go outside. And neither can you. You should be safe inside this house, since the Death Eaters don't know you're here. Going outside would be suicide…" she paused, thinking. "Never mind, I'll talk to them, but first…"

Tamara pulled a small flute out from under her shirt. It hung from a fine silver chain that had been invisible under her clothing. Putting the flute to her lips she blew softly, creating a beautiful melody that somehow gave Harry hope.All of a suddenthere was a soft breeze flowingaround the roomand several white robed hooded people appeared, robes blowing in the breeze. They didn't apparate. It was as if they had always been there and suddenly he could see them.

Tamara turned to Harry gravely. "Harry, meet the Green Heart, the most secret magical society in all of England."